Price as reviewed:

As with all the brakes on test, you get an olive and insert, which allows you to shorten the hose or run the brake internally through your frame and reconnect it, often with minimal fuss. We managed to carefully shorten ours without the need to re-bleed it, which can sometimes be a tricky procedure.

The caliper’s design is taken from the older Avid DB, but the Level is a far cry from the reliability issues found in previous generations. This is thanks to a different lever with internal components that take many attributes from further up the range.

One feature SRAM’s failed to carry forward though, is a tool-less reach adjuster. Older brakes used to have this, but these don’t. When setting up, this can be a nightmare to adjust, because you either need a stubby allen key to insert into the restricted adjustment bolt, or you need to remove the lever altogether. Thankfully, we only have to do this once.

With no fancy cam system in the lever, there’s a solid and direct feel through it when applied, and this helps modulating the power available a breeze. There’s not quite the same amount grab as you’d find in the Deore, but there’s still plenty to get you stopped when needed. There’s also an even cheaper version to be had, that uses a bulkier non-split clamp design if you’re looking for the same performance for less.